Potato-bug exterminator



Patented may' 2, |899. E. L. BmLLHAnT. PDTATU BUG EXTEBIMNATOR.

(Application led Nov. 28, 1898.)

2 sh'eeta-sheet l.

@No Model.)

No. 623,977. Y Patented may 2, '1899. E. L. BRILLHART.

POTATU BUG EXTEBMINATUR.

(Application led Nov. 2B, 1898.)

2 sheets-snm 2.`

No Model.)

d Moz/neng Nrrn STATES Afrnnr Fries.

ELMER L. BRILLIIART, OF PENTVATER, MICHIGAN.,

POTATO-BVUG EXTERIVI I'NATOR.

SPECIFICATION .forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,977, dated May 2, 1899.

Application filed November 28,1898. Serial No. 697,725. (No modelo To all whom it muy concern.:

Ile it known that I, ELMER L. BRILLHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pentwater, in the county of Oceana and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Insect-Exterminators, of which the following is a specification. y

My invention relates to an improved machine for destroying potato-bugsand at the same time cultivating the soil over which the machine passes.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine that can be drawn through the field without destroying the plants, at the same time effectually catching and destroying the bugs thereon by means of a pair of revolving brushes sweeping the insects on a pair of carrying-aprons and they in turn delivering them to a pair of crushing-rolls.

A further object of myinvention is to provide an insect-destroyer with a cultivator which can be readily adjusted to cultivate the soil to ditierent depths.

In the accompanying drawings the same numerals of reference refer to like parts in all the iigures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the body portion of the machine.-

Fig. 4 is a rear View. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the cultivator attachment. Fig. G is a detail View of the crushing-rolls and center of the body portion. Fig. 7 is a detail View to more clearly illustrate the outer roll and the adjustable slide.

The numeral l indicates the body portion, which is composed of a bottom 2 and front-and rear upturned flanges 3 3, the former extending somewhat higher than the latter. The body has side flanges 4, which are turned outwardly into horizontal flanges 5. The bottom 2 has a cut-out in the center thereof, the walls or edges of the same being turned up so as to form inclined ribs 6, the purpose of whichv will appear farther on.

Partition-plates 7 are placed across the body, each of which is located a short distance from the frontand rear Hanges 8 3. Near the center of the partitions I journal a pair of crushing-rolls 8 S, and at the outer ends of said partitions I adj ustably secure adjusting-plates 9 by means of bolts 10. In the outer ends of these plates 9 I mount rolls 11, around which and the crushing-rolls S aprons 4 are passed.

A shield 7, of canvas or like material, is stretched between standards 5n 5, and arranged at the bottom of said canvas and between th'e standards is a diamond-shaped tube 5l', the purpose of which is to prevent the juice or mashed insects from scattering all over the working parts of the machine.

Each flange 5 has bolted to it a stationary plate 5, projecting in and over the rollers 1l. Thebolts which secure these pieces to the flanges 5 also adjustably hold slides 5, the same extending in an outward direction. It is evident that should the machine have to be adjusted for small vines it can be readily accomplished by pulling out the slides.

Arms 14, secured tothe front under side of the body l, support the carrying-wheel 15, said Wheel having on one side thereof a series of teeth 1G, with which the bevel-pinion 17 on the shaft 18 meshes. A pinion 19 on the end of the shaft meshes with a similar pinion on the end of one of the rollers 8, the same meshing with a pinion 20, mounted on the end of the corresponding roller 8.

The brushes are arranged in a series of four, preferably, each being mounted in a suitable supporting-frame. Pivoted to the partitions 7 are supporting-bars 2l, carrying at their outer ends the shafts 22, which carry the brushes and the supporting-frame. On the ends of the shafts are the sprockets 23, around which a chain 23' passes, said chain also passing around similar sprockets on the ends of the shafts on which the rollers S are secured.

The bars 21 are held adjustable on curved braces 24' by bolts 26, passing through perforations in said braces.

Attached to the rear end of the body are brackets 27, to which are pivoted the cultivator-ingers 2S. On the reduced upper side of the lingers I arrange a series of teeth 29, designed to mesh with a similar series of teeth 30 on the lower end of a cam-lever 31, the teeth of said lever engaging the teeth on the culti- Vator-ingers, and thus hold the same in the desired position, the ordinary locking-lever 32 holding the same. The arrangement just described will hold the teeth down only, the Weight of the machine preventing the culti- IOO vatorfrom dropping in the opposite direction, it being understood that the machine is supported by the driving-wheel and the cultivator. A supporting-plate 27n is attached in such a position as to limit the down ward movement of the eultivator.

Handles 32 are provided at the rear of the machine, said handles being bolted to flanges extending from the rear upturned end of the body l, the securing-bolts passing through the handles and the limiting-plate 27% Suitable braces are also provided, as at 33, the purpose of which is to make the machine as rigid as possible.

The operation ofthe machine, it is thought, will be readily understood. The forward part of the body is supported a slight distance from the ground to make the operation more effective. Motion being given the brushes from the drive wheel causes the insects to be brushed onto the carrier-aprons (which also receive motion from the drive-wheel) and thence to the crushing-rolls, where they are crushed and fall to the ground. A pair of scrapers 3% are secured to the inner sides of the inclined flanges 6 and are so adjusted as tobear against the surface of the aprons, and thus keep the same clean. Should something larger than the ordinary be brushed on the aprons, one of the crushing-rollers will yield by reason of one of the bearings pressing against a spring 35, a slot 38 being arranged in one of the partition-plates to allow of the movement.

The body portion is constructed as de scribed so as to eliminate dust and dirt from the working parts.

It is evident I have provided a machine that is cheap and at the same time durable and one that is effective in operation. Many minor changes may bc made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

lVhat I claim isl. A machine for destroying insects, having adjustable means for regulating the width of said machine, and means for directing the insects onto a pair of aprons, said aprons passing around a pair of crushing-rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a pair of brushes, a pair of carrier-aprons, located in close proximity to the same, means for adjusting the brushes, means for adjusting the carriers, a defiectorarranged slightly above and between the inner ends of the aprons, anda pair of Scrapers located below the deflector and operating on the aprons, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A body for an insect-destroying machine, consisting of a bottom, flanges on the front and rear, the former extending upwardly more than the latter, side flanges, said ilan ges having adjustable slides thereon, and two partitions extending transversely across the body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a bug-destroyer,tl1e combination with a body portion, having adjustable sides, a pair of rollers mounted in each half of the body portion, aprons passing around the rollers, the inner rollers in contact with each other, a shield or deflector located above the rollers, and means for directing the bugs to the aprons and the crushers, substantially as described.

5. In a bug-destroyer, the combination with a body portion, a pair of carrier-aprons and rollers in each half of said body portions, the inner pair of rollers being the crushing-rollers, a pair of sweepers arranged in an adjustable carrier-frame supported by the body portion, a supporting-wheelin front,andhaving means for communicating power to the sweepers and aprons, and a cultivator supporting the rear of the machine, substantially as described.

G. In a bug-destroyer, the combination with a body portion supported at the front by a power-wheel, means for operating a pair of rollers vand a pair of aprons from said powerwheel, a pair of sweepers mounted on each side of tbc body portion, means for operating them from the power-wheel and a cultivator supporting the rear of the body portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELMER L. BRILIJIAR'I.

Witnesses:

A. Il. NIcHoLs, FRANK WEEKS. 

